Fabregas set for Arsenal return

Fabregas has not played since the 3-1 defeat by Barcelona on 8 March

Arsenal have been boosted by the news that Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are all fit for Saturday’s game at home to Blackburn.

The quartet missed the 2-2 draw away to West Brom on 19 March.

Manager Arsene Wenger is also hopeful Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey will recover from knocks suffered on midweek international duty.

Arsenal are five points off leaders Manchester United with a game in hand, with the two due to meet on 1 May.

If Arsenal win all of their remaining games they will win the title but the Gunners have a tricky run-in to negotiate.

Liverpool’s visit on 17 April is followed by the local derby at Tottenham three days later, while away trips to Bolton and Stoke also feature in their final nine matches.

Although Fabregas (hamstring), Song (knee), Walcott (ankle) and Diaby (groin) are all fit again, Wenger has yet to decide whether to reintroduce them against Rovers.

“I have not decided if they will start the game yet but they will all be available,” he said.

“Van Persie has a good chance too. He has a final assessment tomorrow Friday but we believe he will be fit. It is a bruised knee.

“Nicklas Bendtner is in the same situation. He will have a test tomorrow on his ankle and we’ll see.”

Ramsey could also be in contention if he passes a post-training assessment on Friday.

Midfielder Denilson will definitely miss the match with a toe injury, however, while defender Thomas Vermaelen and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski have already been ruled out for the rest of the season.